Category: Society

“The environment is one of the leading determinants of health and well-being. Where we are born, live, work, go to school, and play are important factors for our health,” said Dr. J. Nadine Gracia, Chief Medical Officer, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Gracia goes on to detail the efforts of HHS to … Continued

Sustainability starts with personal health, and the love of healthy food can be learned. That is good news for a nation trending towards more diet related diseases every year. In one US study, over 30% of participants were overweight or obese by 9 months of age. How do we reverse this trend? Dr. Alan Greene, … Continued

Americans pay 3-4 times the price for healthcare that folks in other developed countries pay to receive equivalent or better care. A crop of self-managed tools for health is coming to market to fill in the gaps for Americans by providing better health tracking information, as well as a community, or a “social layer,” around … Continued

The ExxonMobil Foundation has a long history of investing in women worldwide, committing nearly $50 million to date toward programs that have benefitted thousands. The foundation recently announced a $1.5 million grant awarded to The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women for research into how mobile phone technology can aid women’s business efforts in developing countries. … Continued

Update: 3p Editor Jen Boynton is on the ground in Mozambique following up on this story. Let us know via Twitter what else you’d like to know! This one almost seems too good to be true, which will, of course, bring the skeptics out. But I don’t see too much wrong with an initiative that … Continued

Both environmentalists and sustainable development advocates lost a champion when Wangari Maathi died on September 25, 2011. Maathi became the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004. On Earth Day in 1977, Maathi founded the Green Belt Movement, a non-profit organization based in Kenya, as a tree-planting organization designed to address … Continued

WWF has joined the Global Canopy Program and the Climate Bonds Initiative in calling on governments help foster growth of a forest conservation bond market. Thirty billion dollars a year invested in forest conservation bonds would cut deforestation rates in half, thereby assuring that the world’s forests will continue to function as sinks that soak up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, they assert.

Medtronic issued its 2011 Corporate Citizenship update, which focuses on supply chain management, communicating with its global workforce, and balancing environmental responsibility with its goals to boost growth.

As generous as human beings are, an investment instrument will almost certainly bring more dollars than philanthropy. Can we direct this flow of capital for good? This year’s marquee sponsor for SOCAP is turning philanthropy on its head by providing impact investment options to the everyday investor. Instead of giving, users of Mircoplace can invest, … Continued

Good food is not only more sustainable for the planet but for our health. Good food tastes really good too. But as much as good food is good for us and the planet, it is not as easy to come by as fast food and processed meals. What can be done to make good food … Continued

Imagine living in a low-income neighborhood, not owning a car, and the closest grocery market that sells fresh fruits and vegetables is 5 miles away. Meanwhile fast food chains and corner stores like McDonalds, and 7-11 are walking distance. What would your diet look like then? About 2.3 million American households live in these food … Continued

The quest for shiny, straight hair has taken on a dangerous curl with the FDA’s first official warning against the Brazilian Blowout treatment. Not only may the brand be putting consumers in harm’s way but they may also be indulging in false advertising. The Brazilian Blowout is a hair-straightening treatment that was first introduced in Brazil … Continued

It’s finally happening. Circumstances, public opinion and political will have aligned to create massive increases in biking infrastructure and bike sharing across the world. Bike businesses are seeing massive, sustained increases in demand, despite the troubled economic times. I must admit that with all the rosy reporting on global bike sharing companies and city schemes, I’ve … Continued

Nearly 50% of Colombia’s 46 million citizens live below the poverty line. Microfinance organizations such as Colombians Supporting Colombians (CAC) are giving budding entrepreneurs a leg up by providing micro-loans and other banking services that conventional banks are unwilling to offer. Some $3.5 billion in micro-credit was disbursed in 2010 to more than 2 million borrowers.